NARRATIVES
TALK TO A
ADVICE
Established April 15, 1995
University of West Georgia Disclaimer
4 November 2008
It was Sunday morning and I was going to take my daughter shopping to look for a Prom dress. As I was showering I suddenly experienced an unusual chest pain. It was unrelenting. I halted my shower and quickly dressed. I now noticed I was sweating and short of breath. I laid down on the bed hoping it would all go away but the symptoms wouldn't subside. I summoned my newly licensed 16 year old and I hopped in the passenger seat on the way to the ER. Could I be having a heart attack? I was relatively young and had no cardiac history. I recently had a normal stress test..how could I be having a heart attack?
I was admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of "myocardial infarction". I was assigned a cardiologist who discussed his plans for my care. I was in the hospital for 2 days and had no real cardiac symptoms other than a slightly elevated troponin level of 0.8. I was placed on a nitroglycerine IV, Lopressor, Plavix, and Heparin. EKGs and an echocardiogram were normal so I was scheduled for a cardiac catheterization which was to be performed Tuesday afternoon. If all went well I would be discharged Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday afternoon the transporter placed me on a stretcher and we were on our way to the cath lab. While waiting to be prepped for my catheterization I sat up and suddenly experienced excruciating pain in my abdomen. My husband asked if I was ok and I responded "I don't think so, I have a lot of abdominal pain". I then passed out. Jim shouted for help and a nurse came running in assuming I was having a cardiac issue. It was so weird....I couldn't speak anymore, but had a keen sense of what was going on. I heard the nurse shout "she's crashing, BP 70/4 0". I could hear everything going on but just couldn't communicate.
My catheterization was cancelled and I was hustled off for a CT scan. I recall someone rushing me through the hallways of the hospital and every threshold we bumped over increased the already unbearable pain in my abdomen. I remember being incredibly hot and sweating profusely. I knew things weren't good when I heard someone say "quick, come look at this". The results revealed a massive amount of blood in the upper abdomen. As a physical therapist, I had enough medical training to know that this was not good. I began to pray and had the most incredible spiritual experience which is beyond the scope of this note.
The radiologist performed an embolization of the splenic artery aneurysm utilizing 8 coils. I was told that they were able to stop the bleeding but I had to undergo emergency surgery to remove a large hematoma that had formed around my spleen and pancreas. My spleen and part of my pancreas were removed. I was the recipient of several units of blood.
I was thrilled (but very agitated) when I woke up in ICU in spite of being on a ventilator. I had survived!!! I spent several days in ICU with fleeting remembrances of my stay there. When transferred to a regular nursing floor I received physical therapy to regain my strength and was released home on Friday afternoon after13 days in the hospital.
Sleeping at night at home posed a bit of a challenge. I had every pillow in the house to prop me up so I could sleep in a somewhat elevated back lying position. I still had 2 drainage tubes with their accompanying bulbs and getting comfortable was difficult. My poor husband had barely enough room in bed around all the pillows I required.
I awoke Sunday morning with terrific back pain and shortness of breath. I hated to wake my husband, but I knew this was not a sign to ignore. We headed off to the ER again and another CT Scan. My recovery was complicated by 2 pulmonary embolisms. I was readmitted to the hospital for another week and I began anticoagulation therapy.
It took me quite awhile to regain my strength. I would wake up, take a shower and be so exhausted by the physical demands of showering that I had to take a nap. I was thrilled the day I could walk to the mailbox (only about 50 feet), but my daughter had to take a chair out there for me to rest in before I could make the trek back.
A year later, I am back to normal but am reminded daily when I see the 15" incision down my belly how incredibly blessed I am. To have survived both the aneurysm rupture and 2 PEs is really something. I figure there must be a real purpose for my life that I have yet to fulfill. I have always embraced life and every momentous occasion in it. Now everyday is momentous!!
This entire event has been life altering. I wish to express my gratitude to all the nurses and technicians in that cath lab who realized this was something not to ignore. I believe that their quick action and the brilliance of the radiologist and the surgeon saved my life that afternoon. Their knowledge and skill were crucial in providing me such a positive outcome.
I had an incredible support system of family and friends that helped me through this ordeal. If I can help anyone who has experienced a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm please do not hesitate to contact me.
God Bless.
Update: 3 February 2009
I am 18 months post my ruptured aneurysm and continue to feel great. I am taking blood pressure medication which I think makes me feel fatigued and I find that I am missing my spleen. I am a physical therapist working in the school system and it seems that I catch all the bugs that the kids have. I have work ups scheduled with the cardiologist and internal medicine doctor next week and am expecting no surprises. Life is good!!
© Copyright 2008 Kate
Holman
All Rights Reserved - Fair Use
acknowledged
Discussion, comments, or questions: Kate Holman
